Volume 15 , Issue 8

2002 Back Door Bear Story

../../image/colobears12.jpg While we were browsing through old archives dating back 2002 we find this interesting back door bear story that appeared in "The OkieLeagcy," 14 September 2002, Vol. IV, Iss. 37.

It is all about this medium-sized brown bear that came to the cabin the morning of September 10th, 2002, around 8:00 a.m. to say good-bye to this Oakie from the flatlands. I am dragged out of bed, sleepy-eyed. I'm outside still in my pajamas with my digital camera slung around my neck. BUT.... there was no bear to be seen when we got out there. Want to know why?

While others were still looking around outside, I head inside and upstairs to look out the windows in the back room. As I step a couple of steps into the room, I hear this lapping of water. I look over towards the south part of the room -- see this thirsty, hungry, medium-sized brown bear that had come through the back door. We startled each other and the bear heads to the back door to get outside. At the same time, I pull the door to the back room shut and go out the front door to let the other's know why they can't find the bear outside.

We come back in and upstairs. We open the door... walk in hollering at the bear. The bear is trying to get out the screen of the door and gets stuck momentarily in the middle of the screen door. We slam the wooden door shut and lock it leaving the bear hanging in screen door. I wasn't brave enough to open the door and get that photo-shot. It would have been a great shot, though! BUT... I'm not that crazy!

It (the bear) finally gets free and sits on the famous retaining wall where all the bears like to sit, eat and scratch themselves while watching the silly humans gawk at the bears. I am slowly, cautiously snapping photos of the bear from all angles. Later I leave the others standing outside and head upstairs to get some shots out the south window. The bear leaves his perch and heads north trying once again to reenter the back door. I start banging on the door. The bear replies with his own scratches on the screen door.

The Bear finally leaves the door and heads north to try climbing on the metal roof to reach another window to no avail. I rush downstairs and outside to where the others are on the north side of the cabin. Some are hollering and trying to scare off the bear with rocks and swinging two-by-fours. The bear just looks quizzically and doesn't budge. A neighbor from across the street comes over with his rifle and finally scares the bear by aiming a shot over it's head. The bear starts walking off to the north and finally leaves the yard.

Who would have thought that a quiet mountain retreat would be so.... exciting! Bears of black and brown, large and medium, roaming in your yard and cabin looking for 30,000 calories per day before they hibernate this Winter.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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